Half to cornelius s



(No Model.)

v F. D. FORD.

BARBED FENCE. I No. 319,807. Patented June 9, 1885.

UNITED 1 STATE PATENT. QFFICE.

FRANKLIN D. FORD, on PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR or ONE- HALF TO CORNELIUS s. SWEETLAND, on SAME PLACE.

BARBE'D FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,807, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed June 17, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN D. FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing atProvidence, Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Barbed Fences, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of barbed fence rails or strips in which a strip or plate of metal has barbs projecting therefrom in all directions.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheap and durable fence-rail or barbed strip that can be easily manufactured and possesses a sufficient amount of strength and durability to withstand the pressure to which it or the barbs may be subjected.

The invention consists in the combination, with a fiat fencing-strip having a transverse groove, of a flat barb having a-prong at each end, and provided with a broad central or body portion, which is inclined at an angle to both the prongs, whereby when the barb is lapped upon the fence-strip the broad body portion will fit snugly in the groove, and the prongs will project substantially at right angles to the strip.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View of a twisted fence-rail having independent barbs fitted thereon. Fig. 2 is a View of an untwisted or straight fence-rail. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the fiat fence rail or strip. Figs. 4 and 5 show barb-blanks cut in such a manner that the points or barbs proper will project at right angles to the fence-rail.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a fiat plate or strip of iron or steel,which constitutes the fence-rail, and a group of which are attached to suitable parts in any preferred manner. The plate or. strip 1 is made of a recti linear form in cross-section, of any desired thickness and width, and is rolled or formed with a series of transverse grooves or depressions, 2, that serve as seats for holding independent barbs 4. The strip or fence-raillhas the grooves 2 disposed on one side or face thereof, the other face bearing the corrugations or projections produced by depressing the metal in the formation of said grooves or barb-seats.

The barbs 4 are arranged on the fence-rail at proper intervals apart, and are so disposed or bent that each barb has two prongs or points, that extend from the opposite edges of the fence-rail. Each barb is composed of a broad or body portion, 5, cut with oblique lateral edges, as is shown in Fig. 4. From this broad central portion of the barb-blank project in a straight direction the arms or branches 7, that have pointed ends, and constitute the barbs or prongs properE when the blank is bent or lapped around the fence-rail. It is evident that when abarb-blank having a central portion with oblique edges and straight end portions is fitted in the groove in the front rail, and then bent in such a manner as to cause said endportions to lie on the other side of the rail, the prongs are caused to project from the opposite edges of said fence-rails in such manner that the straight edges of said points orprongs will lie substantially at right angles to the fence rail or strip, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Barbs fitted in seats or grooves in a flat fence rail or strip in the above-described manner are so firmly clasped on said rail that they cannot turn or slide thereon, and they are prevented from being displaced during use or transportation. A flat fence-rail having independent barbs fitted in seats thereon will answer for use when said prongs or barbpoints are intended to project in the same.

plane from the opposite edges of the fence-rail, the latter being used in a straight condition. When, however, the barb-points are to project in different or many directions from the fence-rail,the latter is twisted,so as to give the rail a spiral form, as is shown in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that by the construction of barb shown the lapped parts of the barb, by being against or adjacent to, each 0ther,present an extended bearing at one side of the fencestrip equal to or greater than the broad central body,5, at the opposite side of the fence-strip, and thus the barb can be secured in a substantial and secure manner.

I do not claim a barb secured to a flat fence- I at an angle to both the prongs, whereby when strand by means of aeentral body having lugs I lapped upon the fence-strip the broad body struck from it, which are bent around the portion will fit snugly in the groove, and the strand; nor do-Iclaim a substantially straight prongs will project substantially at right an- 15 5 barb lapped around a fence-strand. gles to the strip, substantially as described.

Having thus described my invention,whatI In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in claim is i presence of two witnesses.

The combination, with a flat fencing-strip FRANKLIN D. FORD. having a transverse groove, of aflat barb hav- Witnesses: IO ing a prong at each end and provided with a L. E. KENT,

broad central or body portion, which is inclined EDWARD H. BRIGGs. 

